Posts Tagged ‘Wilpena Pound’


APRIL SPECIAL for Lake Eyre & Outback Tour

The word on the street is that no white man has ever seen the Outback in such great health, with the countryside absolutely blooming!

With our 2 and 3 Day Lake Eyre & Outback flying tours about to commence, we are offering a special deal for our Lake Eyre tours in April. With limited seats available, the 2 Day Lake Eyre & Outback Ultimate Weekender departing on April 21-22, is now priced at $2320.00 per person all inclusive.

Our 3 Day Supreme Scenic Safari across Lake Eyre & the Outback on April 27-29th is now $2975.00 per person all inclusive.

Both flights represent significant value and savings with more information including itineraries, FAQ’s, images and more information on our website.

Departing from Adelaide, places of interest include the Spencer Gulf, Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound, Marree, Sturt Stony Desert, the Dig Tree, Innammincka, Coongie Lakes, Cooper Creek, Birdsville, Warburton Groove, William Creek, Coober Pedy and of course the massive Lake Eyre.

Book now to secure your seat for this great opportunity! Contact us at Goin’ Off Safaris here.

 


Perfect weekend for Lake Eyre & Outback Loop Flying Safari

What a great weekend for flying up to Lake Eyre and the Outback Loop it was on June 25 and 26th. We do watch the skies very carefully in the lead up to these trips as being in winter, the weather  gods can sometimes misbehave a little, but this weekend was a purler!

Highlights were more great meals at the Innamincka, Birdsville ( plus fantastic rooms) and William Creek Hotels, the low flying skills of our pilots Chris Pfitzner and Tony Schwerdt and the scenery, beauty and the current form of the outback region. Plus Fish’s humour!

These Lake Eyre flying and scenic safaris are proving very popular, proving that it is a great way to see so much country over a few days whilst still getting plenty of time on the ground to explore.

We had another great group from around the country as we departed Adelaide early morning in the Fairchild Metro II. Here are the comments from our passengers;

” Its been a super experience.Everyone:-  Fish, pilots Chris & Tony, staff at the hotels have been so friendly and good humoured which has made the trip a lot of fun as well. The scenery is stark but stunning & we were lucky enough to have perfect weather conditions. The food & accommodation was excellent. I particularly loved the low flying and the pilots efforts to give us some magnificent photo opportunities. Thanks so much & keep up the great work …..” Sue, NSW

” Gained a greater appreciation of the country and the water channels that flow into Lake Eyre. Can now see why Sydney Kidman chose the country that he did….” Harvey, WA

Enjoyed seeing the great expanse of inland country from the air. Great pilots, guide and accommodation.Thanks….” Pat, WA

” A fabulous trip! We need the beautiful Cooper Creek to slow down a little so we can paddle upstream and not get washed downstream. Thanks to all; Chris, Tony and Fish……” Marian, SA

“Flying at low altitude over Wilpena Pound, Coongie Lakes & Goyders Lagoon were the unexpected highlights for me! The food was also fabulous; organic steak, barramundi and kangaroo really completed the outback adventure…..” Wendy, NSW

” Thanks to Fish, Tony, Chris and Goin’ Off Safaris! Its been a marvellous trip, beyond all my expectations. Loved flying low over Wilpena Pound, Coongie Lakes and Lake Eyre. A great experience…..” Belinda, NSW

” Back seat leg room much appreciated……!” John, SA

“Absolutely stunning country and a great crew, who explained this magnificent part of the world to us. The food was amazing as well. Loved flying low & over Lake Eyre was superb……” Peter & Jocelyn, SA

” Very friendly pilots ( Chris & Tony) and guide ( Fish), plenty of good Aussie food with once in lifetime views……what a recipe for a great trip! I thoroughly enjoyed it all and I will be spreading the word. Unfortunately, conditions wern’t quite right for canoeing, which was the only disappointment. Great job…..” Brian, NSW

Check out the images below, with thanks to Wendy for her great camera work.


Lake Eyre Adventure!

What a great trip last weekend! 8 very keen enthusiasts plus legendary pilot Chris Phitzner and myself , headed for the skies and the Lake Eyre  aboard the classic 1952 Beechcraft 18.

The only Beech 18 flying in Australia, this beauty is very comfortable, very quiet, has great vision at every seat and seriously turns heads whenever we had to land! First port of call was Coober Pedy. We had a ground tour organised as we landed & this took in all the weird, wonderful and amazing sights and stories of everything in & around Coober Pedy. Famous local “Jimmy the Runner” was our superb guide and apart from the ancient inland seas of the Breakaways, the underground home of legendary Crocodile Harry was a highlight. Our digs at the Coober Pedy Comfort Inn Experience were fantastic, complete with an exposed opal seam, highlighting the towns best known commodity. The Old Timers Mine next door, has been transformed from one of the first working mines to house and now very impressive tourist attraction.

The next day, Birdsville was out due to heavy rain, so we headed to Innamincka, via William Creek. If you haven’t all ready heard, the steak sandwiches at the William Creek pub are massive and was the most popular item on the menu, albeit closely followed by the emu yiros! From here, it was all photography as we flew over the majority of Lake Eyre’s 9690 sq. kilometers. An imposing sight, it really is a marvel and gets even better as we flew over the Warburton Groove and the super impressive wetlands of the Coongie Lakes, where flying as low as 500 ft, you see some of the best outback sights you can imagine.

We were then greeted by the friendly hosts of Coopers Creek Homestay in Geoff  & Julie Matthews alongside the Coopers Creek in Innamincka. A few beers around the fire, a 3 course  dinner, a visit to the pub to watch the footy followed by a couple of further nightcaps back at the fire and it was no wonder we slept like babies!

For the keen punters on the trip, we were to meet back at the fire by 6.15am. The sun was just rising and we were keen to catch some fish and or yabbies and check out the bird life on the Cooper. No fish were caught but the crayfish sized yabbies made up well and truly  for any yellow belly! And didn’t they taste any good for breakfast! The bird-life of pelicans, black cormorants, white cockatoos and others dominated the causeway and it was a great start to the day.

Due to unforecasted rain and hence sticky air strip, we got going a little late. Our timing was perfect though as we hit the Flinders Ranges in late afternoon sunlight, which only further enhanced the beauty of this region and after a series of tough seasons, the Flinders is in top shape.  A great trip with plenty of adventure and camaraderie was had and very much looking forward to our next trips.

If your up to it, we still have  vacancies for the 3 Day Supreme Scenic Safari on the 8th-10th of October and also the 19th-21st of October. Contact us now!


New 3 Day Lake Eyre Scenic Flight date

Due to popular demand, we have a new scheduled date for our 3 Day Lake Eyre Supreme Scenic Safari, ex Adelaide. Priced at $2990.00 per person, this all inclusive trip is a “ripper”  and we have 4 seats available for the 19th to 21st of October.(There are still 2 seats on the 8th-10th of October as well!)

With 3 days flying, you can imagine the vast area that we cover and includes all of the outbacks hotspots of the Flinders Ranges, Marree, Innamincka, Birdsville, the Cooper Creek, William Creek, Coober Pedy plus the mining  towns of Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam. Apparently there is a massive lake up there as well which is close to full which only happens a few times per century so we will be exploring this and all the wild life very closely!

For more information & details, contact us asap! Below is another great image of Lake Eyre, from The Sentimental Bloke,which shows the various shades the salt takes on.


Lake Eyre scenic flights available

The whole of the far north of South Australia is in it’s full glory. With consistent winter rains and thunderstorms ( and another deluge this weekend), Lake Eyre and its surrounds really is a true iconic spectacle. Still filling, thousands have emerged on the ground and many more in the sky to check the whole show out.

With all our 3 Day Supreme Scenic Safaris booked out, we have another 4 seats available for departure on October 8th-10th 2010. All inclusive at $2990.00 per person, this is a fantastic opportunity to see the Flinders Ranges, Innamincka, Birdsville, Coober Pedy, Spencer Gulf and every bit of wild life, lake, river, cattle/sheep station, wildflower and mountain in between!

Contact us asap! Below is a great Lake Eyre sunset captured by the Sentimental Bloke.


Lake Eyre 3 Day Supreme Scenic Safaris vacancies

There is nothing better than cruising around the middle of Australia checking out the incredible scenes below of wild life, bird life and the massive amount of water that has ebbed, meandered and flowed through many different pathways and terrains to get to Lake Eyre.  And it doesn’t get any better than doing so in the beautiful Beech 18. (see pictured above)

By popular demand, we are putting together another 3 day/2 night all inclusive scenic safari aboard the Beech 18 ex Adelaide on the 17th of September, with only 4 seats available for $2990.00 per person.

We depart from Parafield Airport out of Adelaide to Port Augusta- Wilpena Pound- Arkaroola- Innamincka- The Dig Tree- Birdsville- Goyders Lagoon-Warburton Creek- Lake Eyre North- William Creek- Oonnaddata -Dalhousie Springs- Painted Hills- Coober Pedy- Olympic Dam- Woomera- Pt.Augusta- Parafield. For full details and itinerary contact us asap.

Check out this faultless image below, by The Sentimental Bloke. This is how stunning the views are and Peter does certainly capture the moment!


3 Day/2 Night Supreme Lake Eyre Scenic Safari

**SPECIAL DEAL**. We have 6 seats available for a fully guided,  amazing 3 day/ 2night Supreme Scenic Safari to the spectacular floodwaters of South Australia’s far north.

Departing from Parafield Airport out of Adelaide, the flight plan includes Port Augusta- Wilpena Pound- Arkaroola- Innamincka- The Dig Tree- Birdsville- Goyders Lagoon-Warburton Creek- Lake Eyre North- William Creek- Oonnaddata -Dalhousie Springs- Painted Hills- Coober Pedy- Olympic Dam- Woomera- Pt.Augusta- Parafield.

We are looking to fill another 4 seats and we are offering  these at a specially discounted price of $2990.00. This includes Parafield Airport transfers from the Adelaide CBD, 3 days flying, 2 nights accommodation, 2 breakfasts, a 3 course dinner and entrance to the Birdsville Historical Museum.

Departure is the 17th  September 2010. Please contact us for further details and itinerary.


Lake Eyre Scenic Tours & Safaris

With the winter season apon us, all the rage in Australian tourism is in the natural phenonaman of the country’s  biggest lake, that being Lake Eyre, filling up. The lake surface itself is a massive 9690 square kilometers ( the size of Holland!) which is normally a very hard salt crust but after early season floods in Queenslands Channel Country of the Georgina, Diamantina & Cooper Creek Catchments, the lake is slowly filling & has only filled 3 times in the last 150 years!

Last weekend saw us fill a classic Beech 18 aircraft for a customized tour of Lake Eyre & beyond over 4 incredible days! Departing from Adelaide, our group took in Wilpena Pound  & Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges,Innamincka, Coongie Lakes,Birdsville, Dalhousie Springs, the Painted Desert & Evelyn Downs cattle station. On the ground, our guests met local characters at the legendary Birdsville Pub, Coopers Creek Homestay, the famous William Creek Hotel & then had the best nights sleep in the underground rooms of Coober Pedy’s Desert Cave Motel. Every day is another amazing encounter with the guys flat out taking in all sights, scenery & there is no better way to catch the best vantage points to appreciate the whole outback experience & that’s by air. 

 Spring is going to be something else as the wildflowers & wildlife will be lighting up the country side so if your thinking of capturing some of the countries absolutely finest scenery, at its spectacular best, get in contact with us asap to book your customised trip. Opal Air charters are our local & well known proven operators with gun pilots,Lindsay Matthews & Chris Phitzner at the helm.  Flights carrying 6-8 passengers are available from Adelaide, Wudinna, Coober Pedy or after a Great White Shark Dive in Pt.Lincoln, we’ll go from there as well!!